Hours after the Titania mission, the groups that made it off planet finally arrive back on Corneria. The starfox team arrives at one of the many CDFs base of operations to speak with general Pepper directly, as they all land disembark; they head towards the watchtower in hopes of finding out who's behind this private army. "This just has to be Andross, I mean who the hell else can it be?" Peppy says, "that's what I thought at first, but knowing Andross; he would've shown himself already.." Fox says.
"Maybe he decided to partner up with somebody?" Slippy questions, "Andross working with someone? Pfft, that asshole stabbed so much people in the back I'm surprised hes still breathin.." Falco responds. Near the watchtower entrance, two CDF operators from commander Hullvard's unit are talking amongst themselves. Shortly after, they notice the starfox team approaching and turns their attention towards them.
"You must be Mccloud, general pepper's waitin on you your team upstairs" one of them says, "Headed there now, telling by the patches on your jackets; you two are apart of Hullvard's crew. Thanks for helping us out in Titania by the way, make sure to pass on our appreciation to Hullvard when ya can..hes a damn good pilot" Fox says. One soilder holds his head down and looks the other way, while the other looks over fox's shoulder. "I'm sure he would've said the same thing to you.." he says, fox looks confused before turning around to see a couple of CDF operators carrying a black and green casket; decorated with a plethora of service medals hanging from one side.
The CDF operator lightly elbows his friend in the arm and they both go in the watchtower, as fox stands there; he develops a sudden feeling of guilt and stares blankly. Peppy rest's his hand on his shoulder and looks back at the casket as well, "Cmon...we shouldn't keep Pepper waitin.." he says. The team walks past fox, all looking back at him as they enter the watchtower. Fox continues to look at the casket for a couple of seconds before going inside the building himself. As the starfox team enter a room on the top floor, they are greeted with general pepper looking down at corneria city threw the glass window.
"General.." Peppy says, "...I have a feeling that whatever is happening, is no small dilemma. The tactics used, the lengths that these people are going to.. i believe we may have a bigger problem than anticipated" Pepper says before turning around. He continues, "outstanding job as always, the five of you...we managed to rescue the two operatives while even haulting the Turric's operations on Titania" he says. Peppy looks over at Falco, Falco then nods and takes a few steps foward. "Before we hightailed it, I was able to find some info. Seems like whoever's runnin the show has intrest in damn near the whole lylat system, beyond that though? Not a single clue.." Falco says, "Which further leans to the talks of war being more likely" Krystal follows up.
"F-fox's speculation is still something to consider though, this could still all just be a ruse to throw us off" slippy says, "Hmm...yes I do suppose that is still a possibility...guess we will find out soon enough" Pepper says as he turns back and sees a Turric ship fly past the window and land at the bases LZ. "I have another task for you five, a week ago I sent a unit to Macbeth to gather information about these invaders; and only one of them came back" Pepper says, he then taps on the table in front of him; making a hologram appear.
"This is Solomon Yovick, one of our elites..and a traitor. When he realized there was important Intel about to be discovered, he made sure the Turric were prepared...and was able to eliminate his entire unit." Pepper says, he then slides his hand across the table; showing a different image in the hologram. He then continues to speak, "luckily, a lieutenant that goes by the name of Gandriv Hullson was able to expose him before unfortunately succumbing to his injuries" he says. Pepper proceeds to tap on the table, playing an audio recording from Gandriv himself.
"Home base please be advised...we were lead into an ambushed by one of our own. Lieutenant Solomon h-has been working with the Turric all this time...now he's...he's headed back to corneria to carry out his other plans. He may have succeeded here but you can still stop him...I-Im running out of time...please..do not..trust-" Gandriv says before the audio cuts off, "The task here is simple, we find lieutenant Solomon and capture him so he can be held accountable for the crimes he committed" Pepper says.
"Are there any sort of leads to where he might be?" Slippy asks, "Reading his file, he spent most of his life growing up In the more..."Troubling" Parts of Corneria; so I will be sending some of our people there as a start" Pepper responds. As the door opens behind the starfox team, a CDF operative walks past them and whispers in general peppers ear before leaving the room. "First, however..we have other matters to attend to.." Pepper says as he turns off the hologram.
Meanwhile at the LZ, the Turric ships back door opens and Nathan, kitman and the others walk out. Vera is immediately met with two CDF soilders aiming their rifle's at her, they grab her from Sebastian and head towards the main entrance for interrogation. "Well shit..Nothing went according to plan, yet we still got the job done..ain't that somethin?" Risso says, Sebastian lighty laughs as he kneels down and fiddles with a mechanism on the ships wall.
Kitman turns around and looks at them both, "So what exactly are you too gonna do?" She says. "What we always do, go out get paid till the kinda people that you work for calls us in so we can do it legally" Risso says as he walks back to the cockpit, Sebastian then stands back up and holds his hand on the back door lever. "You know I'm not really the trustin' type, but on the off chance that Turric girl is tellin the truth; you'll definitely want to keep her around...she might be your only shot to hit these bastards where it hurts" Sebastian says.
"Its general Peppers call on what he'd want to do with her, but I dont see why he'd have a problem with a second opinion" kitman says, Sebastian nods at her then turns to Nathan. "As for you pretty boy, you take care of kitman. Only time she ain't spittin poison is when she's around you...so I know you mean somethin to her" Sebastian says, Kitman rolls her eyes and walks away from the ship while Nathan smiles at Sebastian. "Is that your way of saying you'll miss us?" Nathan jokingly asks, "Dont push your luck soilder boy.." Sebastian responds as he smiles and pulls the lever, closing the ships back door as it hovers and takes off.
Nathan walks to kitman then turns back around to look at the ship while it heads to orbit, "So...how are we gonna convince the general to hear out our allegedly "refined" terrorist friend?" Kitman says as she rests her arm on his shoulder. "With how things just went...I'm sure not a single silver tongue here can help her out of this one" Nathan says as both him and kitman walk to the main entrance of the base.
Meanwhile in the building, fox is being escorted by two CDF officers to the interrogation room where Vera is being held. One officer puts in a code and the door opens, showing vera sitting at a table with her armor stripped and her hands restrained. "She told us she refused to give any information unless it was you, want us to stick around?" One officer says, "No, I'll take it from here.." Fox says while starring at Vera. The two officers nod and walk out the room, shutting the door.
Vera looks up at fox and notices his deadpan stare, "Seems like we're both having a good day huh.." she says. Fox ignores her comment and walks over to the other chair to sit down, keeping the same look. "Ookay got it...noo time for jokes" she says quietly while holding her head down, "Who are you what exactly is your affiliation with me?" Fox asks. "Look, contrary to popular belief; Im not your enemy" Vera says, "Is that supposed to be another joke?" Fox says as he leans back and crosses his arms.
"I'm being serious, I dont have any affiliation with you but the person I-..well used to work for does.." Vera says, "Who exactly is this person you work for? Not only that, I've seen how you guys are treated in combat; why would this person tell some grunt the information you claim you have?" Fox responds. "His full name is Aydral Strauss, and you're right..he wouldn't tell a "grunt" like me shit; I had to risk my life more times than I wanted to in order to know what I know now.." Vera says as she leans foward.
"..Okay then..floor is yours" fox says, "All this planning, the Turric, it's all fueled by something him and your father went through.." Vera says. Fox's eyes widen as he leans forward, "What the hell does my father have to do with this?" Fox asks. "Well I was hoping you'd tell me that, all I know is he's fixing to come after you; while stirring up the whole lylat system in the process" Vera responds, Fox is speechless for a few seconds before shaking his head in disbelief.
"I've never heard the name Aydral Strauss in my life, nor have I heard my father speak that name either" fox says,
"Then maybe someone else who knows him has, he used to work along side the CDF too didn't he? Maybe your chain of command or his old crew might know?" Vera responds. Fox still has a difficult time taking in the information, to the point where he ignores the question and ends up mildly changing the topic. "Why are you even with the Turric in the first place? Not sure if you noticed, but that's a big reason why I'm having a hard time believing anything you say" Fox says.
"I had no choice, with my parents gone.. it was either die In the streets of my home planet; or join him and work for my meals...only I wish I knew sooner what the work would lead too" Vera says while looking the other way, Fox looks at her for a good second before looking the other way and getting up from his seat. "We're done here.." He says as he walks towards the door, "Wait! Mccloud, please..I know you have every right not to trust me; I wouldn't either If was you. But this is the one time I have the opportunity to right so many wrongs on my end, I'm willing to do anything I can to help.." Vera says, Fox looks over his shoulder for a bit and says nothing before proceeding to walk out the interrogation room.
A few moments later, Fox steps outside and sees Peppy talking with a couple of high ranking CDF officers. Peppy then Notices fox and walks towards him, "So how did it go?" Peppy asks. "You ever heard of someone named Aydral Strauss?" Fox says, Peppy looks at fox comfused. "Aydral Strauss? Doesn't really ring a bell to be honest with you.. why?" Peppy asks. Fox looks the other way and takes a deep breath, "Well...we got a lot to discuss" Fox says.
Before Peppy could respond, falco Pat's his shoulder roughly and stands next to him; making him jolt his body and hold his shoulder. "Can we blow this joint now or what?" He says, "Jesus falco easy! Did you get the location from Pepper?" Peppy says, slightly annoyed. Fox then turns and looks at Falco, "Location for what exactly?" Fox asks. "Well..while you were doing your own thing, I was getting the specific location on where this Solomon asshole was. In short...I'm huntin' me a traitor" falco says as he smiles walks back to his ship.